Thome powers way to weekly honors

Slugger the AL PLayer of the Week after post-break surge

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

Jim Thome, the White Sox veteran designated hitter who emerged from the All-Star Game break with a personal-best seven-RBI game, was selected American League Player of the Week presented by Bank of America for the period ending July 19.

On Friday, Thome, 38, hit a grand slam and a three-run homer in a 12-8 victory over Baltimore -- also giving him a White Sox record 14 RBIs in a three-game span reverting to the final two games prior to the All-Star Game break.

It was Thome's 43rd career multi-homer game, seven shy of passing Reggie Jackson for 12th place on that all-time list.

This marks the sixth time the 19-season veteran has taken weekly honors in his league.

Other performances considered for the honor were by Seattle center fielder Franklin Gutierrez (five RBIs and a league-high 12 total bases); Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay (fourth complete game in Sunday's 3-1 win over Boston); Tampa Bay closer J.P. Howell (three saves in three consecutive games) and Rays teammate Carl Crawford, who followed up his Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP Award by hitting .385 with two stolen bases, raising his Major League-leading total to 46.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.